Man arrested after car crashes into Grays house on Christmas Day

Firefighters used two support struts to stabilise the building in Grays, Essex

A man has been arrested after a car crashed into a house on Christmas Day, causing extensive damage.

Essex Police said officers were called to Argent Street, Grays, at 09:50 GMT

No-one inside the house was hurt and the road was closed for several hours, the force said.

"A man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and no insurance and remains in custody," a police spokesperson said.

Police officers, a fire crew and workers from Cadent attended the scene at about 09:50 GMT

Firefighters at the scene used two support struts to stabilise the building after it suffered "significant damage".

The BBC understands the people who lived at the house were staying somewhere else after the incident.

A neighbour, Ramona, who did not give her surname, said she gave the family who lived in the house refuge in the aftermath.

"She was shocked because her brother could have been in that room and the children couldn't go and pick some presents from the living room," she said.

"It was terrible, of course, she was shocked - she couldn't speak too much."

No-one was injured as a result of the crash, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service said

Another neighbour said he was asleep when he heard a huge crash outside.

He said he saw someone running away from the vehicle after the crash but he was stopped from escaping by other residents.

"They must have been travelling at some speed - maybe 80mph or so to do that kind of damage," he told the BBC.

"I know they hit both the electrics and the gas supplies because the gas man came round on Christmas Day and told me to leave my house. So I went to the pub for a while."

Gas company Cadent also attended after reports were made of a gas leak.

A neighbour told the BBC he saw someone running away from the vehicle after the crash